Research keywords

Research expertise

My major research interests are cardiovascular and pulmonary physiology including exercise physiology. In particular, how these complex systems are controlled and integrated in the central nervous system and what factors modulate them. My main interests currently are the control of the coronary and bronchial circulations with special focus on the autonomic control mechanisms. The following is a brief summary:

I developed innovative approaches to the application the Impedance Cardiograph for the non-invasive measurement of cardiac output in humans. Published widely on evaluation of its accuracy and limitations.

I introduced within Human Physiology (University of Newcastle) the use of the pulsed Doppler ultrasound technology for blood flow measurement in multiple small blood vessels. A new technique for manufacturing the minitarised flow transducers was developed and an evaluation of the accuracy of the technique was published in the American Journal of Physiology.

I have a longstanding and close collaborative research relationship with Professor Peter Moore, studying coronary control mechanisms.

I collaborate with other members in the Discipline of Human Physiology (E/Professor S White) and other Disciplines within the Faculty Health (A/Prof David Cottee, Surgical Sciences) on research projects.

I collaborated with Dr Ross MacPherson PhD, Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management, Royal North Shore Hospital, University of Sydney. A study on the effects of the anaesthetic agent halothane on myogenicity was published in Anesthesia and Analgesia.

In 2000-01 I visited UC Davis California, USA and collaborated with Professor Ann Bonham, studying nervous control mechanisms in spontaneously hypertensive rats. This data was published in the American Journal of Physiology.

Helped initiate and establish the Hunter Heart-Lung Research Guild, an associate research group within the Hunter Medical Research Institute, for the promotion of basic and clinical cardiovascular and pulmonary research in the Hunter region. The Guild consists of collaborative groups of clinicians and basic researchers.

Supervised BBiomed Science Honours student (Ms Rebecca Roach) 2004. She was awarded 1st Class Honours for her research Thesis and the University Medal, University of Newcastle, NSW.

Currently Supervising 2 PhD students (DMcleod and MHamut).

Fields of Research

Code

Description

Percentage

110300

Clinical Sciences

100

Administrative

Administrative expertise

I have multiple teaching, educational, research, clinical and other outside administrative commitments. See workload document for details.

Teaching

Teaching keywords

Anaesthesiology

Cardiovascular Physiology

Human Physiology

Integrated Physiology

Respiratory Physiology

Teaching expertise

I teach Human Physiology to multiple undergraduate courses within the Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle. I provide the main Human Physiology resource for the Bachelor of Medicine Program. I also teach postgraduate physiology to medical officers (Interns, RMO's, registrars), nurses and other health professionals. I remain actively involved in Anaesthetic clinical practice and teach basic science and professional skills to emergency department trainees and anesthetic residents in the Operating Room environment. In the laboratory I teach advanced physiological experimental techniques to undergraduate and honours students in the BBiomedical Science Program, and supervise Doctoral (PhD) students.

Quail AW, 'Recent Developments in Integrated Coronary Control Mechanisms: Non-uniform Control of Coronary Flow Conductance Among Coronary Beds', Proceedings of the Australian Physiological and Pharmacological Society, Newcastle, Australia (1999) [E2]

1989

van der Touw TJ, White SW, Hennessy EJ, Porges WL, Quail AW, Glenfield PJ, 'Dynamic control of the bronchial circulation in the conscious dog: preliminary data on the role of alpha and beta adrenoceptors, and of cholinoceptors', Progress in Microcirculation Research: Proceedings of the Fifth Australian and New Zealand Symposium, Canberra, ACT (1989)